The holiday season is one of giving, but many NFL players spend time year-round sharing their time and energy with the community.
The NFL released its annual list of Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees on Tuesday. Each of the 32 NFL teams selected a player who best exemplified the spirit of the late Hall of Fame running back through their community service. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley are among those honored this year.
Even though everyone is playing to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement that the Walter Payton Man of the Year award is "the league's most prestigious honor given annually to the player who best represents the greatness and compassion of Walter Payton on and off the field."
Each nominee receives up to $55,000, and the winner, who will be named at NFL Honors on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas, will be awarded $250,000 to an organization of their choice.
Here are the Walter Payton Man of the Year 2023 nominees:
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Jonathan Ledbetter, DL, works with local youth and raises awareness for mental health. He has his own foundation, Led A Better Way.
Bradley Pinion, P, went to Tanzania this past offseason to serve the community and has raised $20,000 through Punts for Purpose for Compassion International, a nonprofit that sponsors children in need.
Roquan Smith, LB, works with local youth and the veteran community. He established his Roquan Smith Foundation this year to build up families.
Dion Dawkins, OT, is a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the second straight year for his commitment to fans and the community. His Dion's Dreamers foundation provides mentorship opportunities for local youth.
Bradley Bozeman, C, emphasizes anti-bullying efforts. He and his wife have the Bradley and Nikki Bozeman Foundation, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide resources for the community.
Justin Jones, DT, gives back through mentorship and providing resources for single mothers. He mentors local youth regularly through Youth Guidance's "Becoming A Man" program.
Ted Karras, C, sells The Cincy Hat with profits going to Village of Merici, a nonprofit for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has raised more than $325,000 for the organization.
Anthony Walker Jr., LB, emphasizes education and is the face of the team's Stay in the Game! initiative encouraging kids to attend school. He also advocates for social justice and is part of the team's JumpStart program that supports local minority- and Black-owned businesses.
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE, works with Big Thought, a local organization that offers mentorship opportunities for youth. He and his wife served as event chairs for the organization's Big Night gala.
Garett Bolles, OT, works with local youth who have been impacted by the justice system. He is a mentor through a local juvenile probation court program and has his own organization, the GB3 Foundation.
Frank Ragnow, C, uses his passion for fishing that he shared with his late father to give local children time in nature to process grief. His organization is the Rags Remembered Foundation.
De'Vondre Campbell, LB, serves the community through his De'Vondre Campbell Family Youth Foundation, which emphasizes helping others through education, resource distribution and mentorship.
Jon Weeks, LS, goes above and beyond to make sure local families are taken care of during the holidays. He also visits the local children's hospital throughout the year.
Zaire Franklin, LB, has his own foundation, Shelice's Angels, named after his late mother. The organization provides mentorship and skills training for young women.
Dawuane Smoot, LB, works with the local youth through various organizations. He and his wife opened The Elsie Academy, a bilingual early education center.
Patrick Mahomes, QB, receives his second straight Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination for his work in the community. His 15 and the Mahomies foundation has donated more than $4 million through grants and encourages reading and volunteering.
Maxx Crosby, DE, works with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to brighten the lives of local youth. He and his wife also made a $1 million donation to the athletic department of his alma mater, Eastern Michigan University.
Derwin James Jr., S, gets the nomination for his second straight year for his work with the Boys and Girls Club, supporting flag football for girls and hosting a dance party for senior citizens.
Cooper Kupp, WR, dedicates his time to helping support food programs in the community. He also mentors a local high school football team.
Alec Ingold, FB, empowers the youth through his Ingold Family Foundation, which hosts various sports events throughout the year.
Harrison Phillips, DL, has his own foundation, Harrison's Playmakers, which now reaches three locations with a mission to provide resources and mentorship for children and young adults with developmental differences.
Jonathan Jones, DB, is nominated for his support of sports and education for girls. He also established the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation to help fight hunger in the community.
Tyrann Mathieu, S, gets his second nomination for his work in his hometown community. He utilizes his Tyrann Mathieu Foundation to provide resources to underprivileged families.
Saquon Barkley, RB, sponsors Covenant House New Jersey, a center that provides housing and resources for at-risk youth. His efforts have helped raise $7 million in the past five years.
Solomon Thomas, DE, co-founded The Defensive Line and has partnered with other organizations to promote mental health and combat suicide. He also has worked with local youth and donated $24,000 to two families who were victims of a mass shooting in Texas.
Lane Johnson, OT, uses his own experiences with anxiety to advocate for mental health. He works with various organizations and participates in speaking engagements to spread a messsage of hope.
Cameron Heyward, DT, gets his sixth Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination for serving as a mentor and hosting his annual Cam's Kindness Week, which impacts various areas of the community.
Arik Armstead, DL, is nominated for the fourth straight year for his work through his Armstead Academic Project, which empowers local youth. He has raised and donated $2 million through the organization and participates in events like story times and field trips to colleges.
Bobby Wagner, LB, receives a nomination for the second time in his career for his work to raise awareness about stroke symptoms through his foundation, the Phenia Mae Fund, named for his late mother. He also supports education initiatives and helps pay off student lunch debts at local schools.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S, works with various organizations supporting kids in the foster care system. He's participated in several events, including taking kids trick-or-treating and hosting a pampering day for young women with his fiancée.
Jeffery Simmons, DT, gives back to the community through his Give 'Em A Reason Foundation. The organization seeks to fight hunger and help underprivileged youth find self-confidence.
Terry McLaurin, WR, established the Terry McLaurin Foundation to provide resources and empowerment to local youth. The organization has provided sports equipment, art supplies and prom dresses to those in need.
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